Photographic accessory



(No Model.)

J 0. GOMBBR. PHOTOGRAPHIG ACCESSORY.

Patented Feb. '7, 1888.

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N. PETERS. Ph

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

JOSEPH O. GOMBER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

PHOTOGRAPHIC ACCESSORY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 377,556, dated February 7, 1888.

Application filed May 10, 1887. Serial No. 237,696. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH G. GoMBER, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee,and in the State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic Accessories; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to photography; and it consists in a method of photographing living subjects whereby a statuesque appearance will be given to the finished pictures, and in the peculiar construction and arrangement of photographic accessories necessary in the carrying out of said method, as will be herein after described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and subsequently claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation, partly in section, of the peculiar photographic accessories employed and a subject in position to be photographed according to my method; Fig. 2, a rear view of the accessories, and Fig. 3 a view of a finished photograph.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A represents a platform that is preferably provided with casters a, to facilitate its being moved about in aphotographgallery. Suitably secured to the platform are vertical standards B B, and pivoted to these standards are the vertical portions 12 b of a strip of metal or wood bent to form three sides of asquare. The ends 0 c of the bent. strip are turned in at right angles, and have secured thereto the outwardlybent ends (I d of another strip, 0, that is nshaped and united at its upper end to the horizontal portion 6 of the former strip by means of a brace-piece, D, as illustrated by dotted lines, Fig.

Each vertical portion 1) of the bent strip pivoted to the standards'B B is provided with a slotted ear, f, and passed through this car and the adjacent standard is a bolt, 9, on which worksja set-nut, h, that serves to hold the frame, composed of said strip and the parts 0 D, in the position to which it may be adjusted. The turned-down ends 2' of supports E are secured to the outsides of the standards B B by means of bolts j and set-nuts 70, so as to be vertically adjustable, lugs at being secured to said standards to serve as guides for the supports.

Suitably secured to the supports E is a shelf,

F, having its inner corners cutaway, as shown at n, Fig. 1, to allow free movement of the pivoted frame.

To that side of the pivoted frame next the shelf F is secured in any suitable manner a dark curtain or background, G, provided with an opening, 0, and to the horizontal portion 6 on the opposite side of said frame is hung a roller-curtain or background, H.

Abust, I, preferably consisting of askeleton frame-work covered with cloth and mounted on a pedestal, J, is arranged on the shelf F in front of the opening 0 in the curtain or background G, said bust being provided with drapery, K, arranged to suit the taste of the photographer or subject to be photographed.

In taking what I term a bust-portrait the pivoted frame is preferably adjusted to more or less ofan angle, asshown in Fig. 1, the person to be photographed seated on the stool or chair L in the rear of said frame, and his or her head passed through the opening 0 in the curtain or background G. The bust I is now arranged so that the neck thereof will fit snugly about the neck of the person, the shelf F being made vertically adjustable to aid in such arrangement. In order to obscure the line where the neck of the subject joins that of the bust I, I may arrange the drapery of lace or embroidery or employ a necklace, M, as shown in Fig. l; but by suitably tinting said bust and proper arrangement of lights it is possible that the use of the necklace or equivalent drapery may be dispensed with.

After the subject has been arranged as above described, a negative is secured in the usual manner, and from this negative a positive is printed that has the desired statuesque effect.

By adjusting the pivoted frame to a vertical position and running down the curtain H, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. l, I secure a plain black background that will serve for ordinary photographic purposes.

The curtain H is preferably mounted on a spring-roller and provided with abottom strip, 10, from which depend hooks q, that engage eyes 1" on the platform A, this construction serving to keep said curtain taut.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A method of photographing living snbjects to give a statuesque appearance to the finished picture, that consists in concealing the body of the subject behind a curtain or background, exposing the head and neck in front of this curtain or background, arranging a bust or analogous form so that the neck thereof will fit about the neck of said subject, and then securing a negative in the usual manner, substantially as set forth.

2. A photographic accessory that comprises a suitable frame, and a curtain or background stretched on the frame and provided with an opening, in combination with a bust or analogous form arranged adjacent to the opening in said curtain, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A photographic accessory that comprises a suitable frame, a curtain or background stretched on the frame and provided with an opening, and a shelf adajcent to said frame, in combination with a bust or analogous form arranged on the shelf adjacent to the opening in said curtain or background, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A photographic accessory that comprises a suitable frame, a curtain or background stretched on the frame and provided with an opening, and a vertically-adjustable shelf arranged adjacent to said frame, in combination with a bust or analogous form arranged on the shelf adjacent to the opening in said curtain or background, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A photographic accessory that comprises two Vertical standards, a suitable flame pivotally connected to the standards, and a curtain or background stretched on the frame and pro vided with an opening, in combination with a bust or analogous form arranged adjacent to the opening in said curtain or a background, 0 substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A photographic accessorythat comprises two vertical standards, a suitable frame pivotally connected to the standards, a curtain or background stretched on the frame and provided with an opening, and a vertically-adjustable shelf secured to the standards, in combination with a bust or analogous form arranged adjacent to the opening in said curtain or background, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A photographic accessory that comprises a suitable frame, a curtain or background stretched on one side of the frame and provided with an opening, and a roller-curtain or background mounted on the otherside of said frame, substantially as set forth.

8. A photographic accessory that comprises a platform mounted on casters, vertical standards secured to the platform, a suitable frame pivotally connected to the standards, a curtain or background stretched on one side of the frame and provided with an opening, a rollercurtain or background mounted on the other side of said frame, and a shelf secured to said standards adjacent to said curtain having the opening therein, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of WVisconsin, in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH (J. GOMBER.

\Vitnesses:

H. G. UNDERWOOD, N. E. OLIPHANT. 

